Flu shots currently available for high-risk groups, but after Oct. 24 all Virginians will have access to the vaccination

By Rachana Dixit, news editor

Due to a delay in flu vaccine distribution, the University Health Center will not be giving flu vaccinations as they have been in years past.

“Right now there’s no vaccine available,” said Diane Smith, office manager of the Office of Health Promotion. Depending on availability, Carilion Family Medicine will coordinate and staff the Flu Clinic for 2005; they will use the Health Center building as a location to dispense the vaccines.

The Health Center is advising all students, faculty and staff that fall within the Center for Disease Control’s guidelines for high-risk populations to get the vaccine by their general practitioner or primary care provider. If the 2005 Flu Clinic is held, vaccines will be distributed according to CDC guidelines.

The CDC has defined high-risk populations as people of 65 years of age or older, children six to 23 months old, residents of long-term care facilities, health care professionals, people with chronic cardiovascular, pulmonary and metabolic diseases, children and adolescents who receive long-term aspirin therapy and women who will be pregnant during the flu season.

The Virginia Department of Health is recommending everyone receive the vaccine this season partially due to the 36,000 fl u-related deaths and over 200,000 hospitalizations that occur each year. Typically, January and February are peak fl u months in Virginia, but increased fl u activity can last into March.

“While almost everyone can benefit from the vaccination, we encourage those most at risk for complications from the flu to be vaccinated sooner rather than later,” State Health Commissioner Robert B. Stroube said. “Complications from the flu can lead to pneumonia and other serious illnesses, such as infections of the brain and heart. “

Jimeequa Williams, public information offi cer of the offi ce of epidemiology for VDH, said, “We always recommend to get the vaccine every fl u season. Certain individuals succumb to the fl u each year.”

Two types of flu vaccine are available in the United States, of which formulas are changed each year to attack the strains of the virus in circulation. “Our goal is to develop a vaccine that most closely matches the strain of virus that is going around,” Williams said.

Beginning Oct. 24, all Virginians will be eligible for vaccination. Until then, flu shots will be prioritized for high-risk groups. Williams said VDH is working with local health providers to ensure adequate supplies, which should be shipped out by November Currently 230,000 doses of the vaccine are available.